Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari talks about PM Manmohan Singh’s work and his support to Rahul Gandhi with The New Indian Express Editorial Director Prabhu Chawla on Teekhi Baat on IBN7. Excerpts:
What was the motive behind the press conference held by the Prime Minister?
The complaint that journalists have pertaining to Manmohanji is that he does not speak to the press. Maybe the press conference was to address that complaint.
PM has decided that public does not want him. Hence he is retiring and won’t be PM in 2014…
For 10 years he served the nation. Then, he decided that youth leadership should be given a chance. Let me tell you something that happened off the record. In an editorial guild meeting with the PM held three months ago, he told them he is not the claimant for PM’s post in 2014.
Do you feel he was sad and had nothing to say?
There was no sadness and helplessness. He gave political stability and internal security to the country and on every test the government has proven itself.
But the government was involved in so much corruption.
Any government is marked on some parameters like political stability, communal harmony, internal security, economic growth, international diplomacy and other issues. The government has proven its merit on all fronts.
In UP scores of riots have happened since 2012 which had never happened in the past 12 years.
When the riot happened, the government called a meeting of national integration council, the necessary security forces were dispatched to Muzaffarnagar and other areas. PM, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhiji and Rahul Gandhiji visited the place.
Why don’t you make a new PM take charge?
Till 2014, Manmohanji is our PM. As far as Rahul Gandhi is concerned, it is true that he is our natural leader. We want to contest the 2014 polls under his leadership.
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